The Isuzu D-Max has gone electric, and if you're squinting at the pictures trying to spot the changes, you're not alone. This new all-electric version sticks so closely to the diesel-powered original that you might be forgiven for thinking someone just added a plug and called it a day.
But underneath that familiar shell is a completely new powertrain, and yes, it still wants to climb mountains, ford streams and haul your trailer.
Key Highlights
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262km range (WLTP) from a 66.9 kWh battery
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190 bhp and 325 Nm from dual motors
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Full-time 4wd with Rough Terrain Mode
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Over 1000kg payload, 3500kg towing capacity
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Ground clearance: 210mm | Wading depth: 600mm
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0-100kmph in 10.1 seconds | Top speed: 125kmph+
What's New?
Power comes from two electric motors – one for each axle – offering a combined 190bhp and 325Nm of torque. The 66.9 kWh battery sits snugly under the floor and supports 50 kw DC fast charging. Isuzu claims a 20-80 percent charge in around an hour. Just don't expect long-range bragging rights — 262km between charges is decent for off-road duty, but a bit modest in today's EV world.
Off-Road Credentials Intact
Thanks to its ladder-frame chassis and 4wd system with a Rough Terrain Mode, the D-Max EV hasn't forgotten how to get dirty. It retains a solid 210mm of ground clearance and can wade through 600mm of water. The approach and departure angles stand at 30.5 and 24.2 degrees, respectively — good numbers for something this size.
There's a new de Dion rear suspension setup in place of the old leaf springs, which should help it stay better planted when the road gets rough or the cargo bed gets full.
Towing and Dimensions
It'll still haul over a tonne in the back and tow up to 3500kg. Kerb weight is up to 2350kg, so it's not exactly light, but that's the battery tax you pay. Isuzu hasn't revealed how much towing will affect the range, but if physics has anything to say, it will be quite a bit.
Design and Cabin: Business as Usual
If you were expecting a radical new face or neon blue trim, prepare for disappointment. The EV is based on the facelifted D-Max that launched overseas in 2024, not the one still sold in India. Visually and functionally, it's the same deal — a robust pickup with a clean layout, touchscreen infotainment, smartphone mirroring, dual-zone climate control, parking sensors at both ends and heated front seats.
Currently, it's offered only in double-cab form, which makes sense — it's the one everyone wants anyway.
Coming to India?
Isuzu hasn't confirmed if the D-Max EV will reach Indian shores. Still, given our slowly growing EV infrastructure and commercial focus on utility vehicles, it might just make sense, eventually.
For now, it's a quiet workhorse that doesn't scream about being electric. And in a world full of EVs trying very hard to look like spaceships, that's almost refreshing.
